Motorola ending promised Moto E Android updates after just 219 days

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Motorola has stepped up its game in recent years when it comes to software updates. It has even managed to get the last few waves of major Android OS updates rolled out on an almost Nexus-like timeline, but budget devices are always a lower priority. Motorola promised it was different when the low-cost 2015 Moto E was announced back in February. However, just 219 days later, it looks like the Moto E won’t be getting any major updates.

With Google planning to push Android 6.0 Marshmallow to Nexus devices next week, the time has come for OEMs to start talking about their own update schedules. Motorola, always seeking to remain transparent, has posted a list of all the devices it plans to update to 6.0. Not on that list is the still very new 2015 Moto E. Devices like the Moto G (2015), Moto X Pure Edition (2015), Droid Turbo (2014), and Moto X Pure Edition (2014) will be getting the update, but there’s no firm date.

When the new Moto E was announced, Motorola got everyone excited with the pricing. The retail price is $120-150, with the more expensive model running an LTE radio. This version of the phone has even gone on sale for as little as $99 on Amazon. The software is very close to stock Android, and it has most of Motorola’s custom software add-ons, which are actually good additions to Android.

For $150, it was a very compelling device. Motorola also went out of its way to assuage fears it would lag on updates (see the video above). Here’s what Motorola Marketing Manager Magno Herran said back in February.

“And while other smartphones in this category don’t always support upgrades, we won’t forget about you, and we’ll make sure your Moto E stays up to date after you buy it.”

That seems pretty clear, doesn’t it? Yet, here we are looking at a phone just a few months old with no update prospects. This device launched on Android 5.0 Lollipop and was bumped up to 5.1 Lollipop, but most don’t consider that a major update. Android 6.0 would add features like Google Now On Tap, improved battery life with Doze mode, and granular permission management. That’s the kind of update you really want.

There doesn’t appear to be any technical reason to leave the Moto E behind so soon. Inside is a Snapdragon 410 system-on-a-chip, just like the one powering the 2015 Moto G, which is getting an update to Android 6.0. The only real difference is that the Moto E sells for much less and that probably makes it a lower priority. On one hand, you can’t expect flagship levels of support for a $150 phone, but Motorola did market this device as being well-supported with updates.

With the premium phone market shrinking as budget devices get better, Motorola really shouldn’t be stingy with support on these devices. Phones like the Moto E could be a big part of its business going forward.

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Eh… that is strange, particularly if devices older than it will be getting the update. I really like Motorola for the most part and have been very happy with their phones, but this seems like a pretty crappy thing for them to do. Hopefully they change their mind.

Wierd0n3

yeah, I have the older Moto E on straighttalk, and it was to only Moto E to not be upgraded to 5.0. I’m stuck on 4.4.4 until i switch phones. considering it only has 2gb storage, it works basically for my purposes. does the 2015 model have more?

Badelhas

The older Moto E has 4gb, the 2nd version has 8

Seatux

APAC/Indian/Brazillian Moto E 1st Gen all got 5.1, which probably short of a Stagefright fix, would probably be the last.

Disappointed that Lenovo had killed off the one good point of getting a Motorola, that updates. It seems the Xperia Z family would be the best supported, with the z1 getting its 5.1 2 years post launch.

Michael Clapp

We just got our older Moto E’s updated to 5 so it might be a carrier thing.

Wierd0n3

almost certinly, as the straight talk model is the only one on Motorola’s web page that didn’t get it.

onstrike112

Not surprising. It’s pretty typical that vendors lie about support when trying to push them on end-users, then when time comes for such updates to come, they don’t because that costs money. The after-sale part of Android is laughable, always has been, and always will continue to be. That’s why I’ll never own another one. I had a bad experience with a Galaxy Tab 3 7.0, and that’s a mistake I will NEVER make again, because that’s how Android is…. hacky, fragmented, cumbersome, insecure, and useless.

SufferinJaysus

But apart from that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

Joel Detrow

I imagine Cyanogenmod will come to the rescue.

RH

Other than Apple, and Nexus devices, it sucks, but, from the manufacturers & carriers perspective, it does not make sense to keep the phones up to date. They want you to buy a new one every 8-12 months. Until people say SCREW THAT, and stop buying new devices, you think they will change?

The Watson

Seems like a no brainer, since the G is its twin. The hardest part is done, which i believe is the SoC “drivers”. There will be a class action lawsuit filed over this. It is after all false advertising. I would join it, if I had one and there was one. Im surprised they didn’t say put CMxx on it. Im sure the skilled devs @ xda can patch the image for a port/flash.

After a few minutes thought, they will pull an X2. Instead of upgrading, just offer a ridiculously low credit towards a newer Moto! That was my reason for getting an S3! Offered me $100 credit towards another $500 locked down phone!

Sunset Rider

I doubt there will be a lawsuit, since Motorola did follow up on their promise of updating the Moto E. The article clearly states that the Moto E was updated from 5.0 to 5.1. That’s what they’d argue in court, and that would be enough to win their case. Nowhere did they claim they would update to 6.0.

The Watson

You obviously did not watch the promo video. I got about a 1/3rd of the way thru and heard 2 statements that would be damaging evidence. Never be stuck with an outdated version of Android was the first… They screwed themselves with video. They should probably sacrifice an E for testing with a G image or whatever…

Choong Kon Keong

If Motorola don’t keep its promise of OS support and upgrade for a phone in less than a year, his to expect consumers to trust again in them for other phones? Big mistake on their part!

Ko lrabi

I bought a moto e on Aug. 26th 2015. My phone is not up to date, wtf? Who is handling the class action lawsuit? Motorola needs to learn an expensive lesson.

Stephen Hill

It should be noted that not all Moto E 2nd Gen’s have been updated. I’m in the UK and have a XT1524 that’s only a few months old and its still on 5.0.2 and apparently there’s no plans of an update. My wife has my old Moto G 1st Grn and even that has updated to 5.1.1 and yet it’s two years old!

Paul

I have a first gen Moto E and after a year it has finally received the promised 5.1 update, but I’m not really impressed as it has rendered the device practically useless. It’s said to have 4GB of internal storage and under Kitkat I had about 1,5 GB free for apps and other content but since the upgrade to Lollipop I’m constantly getting the “Storage space running out” notification. That is weird, considering that the phone is back to factory settings and has only two apps installed (Messenger and Shuttle music player). Yet it still has only 170 MB free! What the hell, Motorola!

David Born

Motorola are a bunch of crooks. I ‘updated’ my android phone today and it destroyed it. Fonts reduced, format changed, Numbers so small you see them.?? it is a completely different phone.. a POS! How dare they, and there is no going back and nothing I can but call the FCC and The BBB to complain.. I will NEVER buy a phone form these back stabbers Motorola ever again. My business is on hold because of it, half the functions dont work, they Killed My phone!! Do Not Do Any Upgrades On Motorola Phones!! You will immediately regret it. Motorola told me to contact google..No, I will level charges against Motorola for this theft.. They are thieves, they did this so you would be forced to buy a new phone..They should their license suspended for this atrosity.

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